I think Toronto quickly found out that all there high priced D man are over rated like Beauchemin who they traded can’t play without Neidemyer, Komaserik can’t function without Markov, and Phenuef is a bum without Reghyer…. Shennn well hes just a shitty Dman. Kabrele hes a shell of his former self can the guy even shoot the puck anymore……

“Also, if anyone thought Cherry took a night off from his Hab-bashing, or Subban-bashing, think again. A not so subtle little bobblehead of Milan Lucic sitting on the table in front of Cherry didn’t escape my eye.”

I don’t particularly love Don Cherry, but wow, the asinine lengths some people go to, to whine about his opinion(s).

And.. and Milan Lucic bobblehead is Hab/Subban-bashing, is it? Like, it’s not just showing support for the team he loves and coached for, it’s just taking a crap on the Habs? That’s really what you deduce from all of this?

CBC and the Leafs media which is all english newspapers and TV in Canada crap on PK because they are jealious he is on the Habs. Can you imagination if he was on the Leafs he be JC coming back to Toronto. Then again if he was a Leaf he be ruin by now as a player. As Habs fan we do have to give a thank you to Burke he makes sure the Leafs are one team we don’t have to fight for a playoff spot with.

has absolutely nothing to do with racism as the media geniuses have all decided among themselves and so never mention it, but one caller after another on talk radio think different. and its been going on from game 1 of the season, when leafs a low level team who never played against subban before went after him all game long.

Was it Hickey or was it you Booner who told me that despite Dezzy dominating every league he’s ever played in, he couldn’t play in the NHL? Somethin about not fast enough for his size, if I remember. Was it Hickey or was it you that told me there was more to gain from sticking with Eller if Dezzy was the alternative?

I think it was you but after Hickey’s confession, I’m not too sure and I don’t want to sue the wrong person.

Anyone see the feature on Jordan Subban playing for Team Ontario at the Canada Games? He’s a puck moving defencemen and was asked about the similarities with his older brother PK. He said they’re pretty much the same, but he’s better looking than him! Come on PG, get ready to draft this kid in a few years!

i laughed off the racism angle at first , now i’m not so sure and unless someone makes batently racist comment it will never be addressed because it’s somehow taboo , you can bet the media will fail to do their job on this one.

Totally nothing to do with the game, but WTF was that Coach’s Corner thing all about with Cherry as some hero Mountie from the past, and Maclean as some historic criminal from the Yukon? Was I the only one shaking my head and sticking needles in my eyes and ears? Totally ridiculous segment.

Also, if anyone thought Cherry took a night off from his Hab-bashing, or Subban-bashing, think again. A not so subtle little bobblehead of Milan Lucic sitting on the table in front of Cherry didn’t escape my eye. It wasn’t there by accident. A bobblehead, and a bubblehead, together as they should be.

One thing I didn´t get last night. AK46 played a couple of shifts on the Pleks line and Gionta with Gomez. Why didn´t Martin keep it that way? Kostitsyn is so much better with Peks, hasn´t got any chemistry with Gomez while Gionta is capable of playing good hockey with any center. Pouliot – Desharnais – Kostitsyn would also be an interesting line but please, no more Gomez-AK 46 on the same line.

I don’t think I’m asinine, but don’t mind if you do think I am. I’m okay with that. And yeah, I do think it was a direct shot at Habs fans that he had that Lucic bobblehead sitting there. With the memory of the last B’/Habs game still fresh in everyone’s minds. Going to great lengths? I don’t think so. Cherry bashes PK every chance he gets, and Lucic gave Subban a nice crosscheck over the head when he was being held down, and the Bruins ran him all night long. Stretch? Read between the lines. Anyway, opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one.

I was sitting down low at the game last night and I couldn’t help but keep an eye on how poorly Michael Komisarek is playing. Its remarkable how he’s completely lost his mojo. I guess not playing with Markov, getting beaten up by Lucic and playing with wonky shoulder has ruined his career?

Mike tweeted a few days ago that he was working hard to get back. At the beginning of the week tsn said he would be able to practice this weekend but the Habs did not practice. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he is ready to go a week from today. I was afraid “they” might have jinxed him when “they” issued a Cammy version heritage Classic jersey.

Had to miss the game last night, unfortunately (boo-hoo) but I have to say that I don’t really feel any kind of rivalry with Toronto anymore. Honestly. I remember after the lockout foaming at the mouth when TO was in town and getting really tied up in knots about them.

Now, however, it’s not the same, and I blame Toronto. Why aren’t they better? Why can’t they make me care? Look at Boston and Philly. They are our real rivals because they mean something. Boston even more than Philly because they are so close to us in terms of talent etc.

Toronto? Beh. C’mon Hogtown, get something going. I want to see teeth flying.

Be careful what you wish for my friend. It could come back and bite you hard. I’m the opposite. I want the laffs to SUCK and continue to SUCK for many, many, many years to come. I want them to get just close enough to the playoffs (9th), so as to not give Boston a draft lottery pick, and once they are done giving away their 1st round picks, to finish in 9th, or 10th place. Why would I be like this to another Canadian team? Because of the all out bias that our national broadcaster CBC gives to the laffs and their hatred against the Habs. It’s like hating two teams at once, the laffs team and team CBC who supports the laffs. I hope they NEVER make the playoffs. It wouldn’t bother me in the least.

What happened to amazing Grabovski that BG mistakenley go?? I heard his name called twice both on pp’s and nothing the rest of the game. The Leafs have only 1 player, Kessel, that resembles any kind of 1st line player. All these years and still nothing good ahead for that team. It’s remarkable how they can suck so bad for so long in the biggest market in a hockey country.

it wasn’t really much of a fight tho…. Now if only PK wouldn’t be so clumsy when he tries to fight. I always notice he throws some big haymakers but always misses and looks like hes gonna fall. I tell you one thing when he stops being so clumsy I think he will pummel a few people LOL…

I lost all respect for Komisarek during the ’09 playoffs, when he borderlined on Ulf Samuellson. Started showng his true colors and was never the same after Lucic beat him senseless earlier that season.

Was I upset he jumped to the Leafs? Well, yeah I was and who really wasn’t? But seeing that his play has carried on from the spring of ’09 and that they are stuck with his sorry ass is well worth the redemption.

The media might not report on it, but Twitter was a’buzz with one racist (that flew into my radar) calling P.K. awful, ugly names…it’s there, and don’t think it isn’t a thorn in the side of those who think hockey is a white-man’s game only. They’re out there and the more in-their-faces P.K. gets, the more vocal they will become. Ugly awful haters.

I suppose because I live in Quebec, I’m in the lucky position to not have to watch the CBC. I’m sure those clowns make it easier to hate the Laffs, but because I never watch the Ceeb, I don’t care what they think.

To be honest with you, I feel bad for real Leaf-fans. You support the team of the town you grew up in; it’s not your fault where you’re born. Add that to the fact that hardly any honest working-class Leaf fan can probably never see a game, makes it pretty sucky.

I don’t have a problem with fans who are passionate about their team, it’s cavemen like Philly fans that I despise. Boston isn’t even that bad.

We are still in good shape Danno, 10 points clear of the last play off spot.

Desharnais is now our 2nd best center man, and Pouliot is starting to fit a little better. Cammillaire is out for some time yet, but will fit in nicely just in time for the play offs. Mean while, the kids are gaining experience.

The Boston game is a big reason we dropped in Goals against and moved up in goals for. Hope we don’t have any more of those run and gun games, definitely not our style and makes me nervous. I am a lot more confident when it’s a low scoring defensive game.

If Leaf fans were humble like Cubs fans (as an example), I would feel for them. They have an arrogance that only comes with championships. That being said, they have really been knocked down a peg the last 4 seasons.

After all the abuse caused at the gardens, I hope karma keeps them from ever getting close to the cup.

some Laffers have learned to face reality and are very frustrated. There will always be the diehards losers that think if they only could make the playoffs then look out. All they want is what all fans want so I can’t blame them for that. But there are always the big mouths every year that just don’t give it up when the writing is on the wall. Those are the true idiots who I will never feel sorry for.

I have never liked the ‘blame’ for vilence in hockey being placed on USA fans. I think there are enough neanderthals in Canada who adore mindless hockey violence… as opposed to tough physical hockey.

It would be a sad state if we go back to each team having a goon. And dont say when Gretzky played he had a goon. There were fighters then but almost every team also had a slew of tough physical players.

I think the goon phenomenon came later, where each team started having a Laraque just for fighting.

Habs should not be dealing for top six young forward type. Now is not the time. Price will be too high money wise and what we have to give up. We need the size and grit and experience of two good utility players. Not stars but players who impact a game with consistency andjump and pugnacity. Notice I didnt say truculence lol.

I can see where youre coming from but, the owners will never drop playoff revenue. Its the regular season games that need to drop, but theyd never agree to that either, theyd cram 100 reg. season games in if they could.

[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.

How about starting the season in mid- September to get it all done before June 1.

Shortened playoff rounds generally means that weaker team have a better shot against the better teams. After winning the conference it is better to have a fair shake with a best of 7 rather than a best of 3. Most bubble teams lose in the first round precisely because it’s a best of 7. Rewarding mediocrity is not a good idea.

In short, because it doesn’t make sense to play 28 games in less than months. Spreading the games out over a greater number of days would mean extending the playoffs past mid-June, which is a terrible idea. The only other solution is to reduce the number of games played.

I’m well aware of why they only play one game and I know that one hockey game is not in any way equivalent to one football game, but SEVEN hockey games are definitely more gruelling than one football game.

Well proposing that the NHL adopt single game playoff rounds is just crazy lol so by reducing the number of games, the importance of each and every game will increase.

The divisional re-alignment is a good idea. I wouldn’t want the number of playoff teams to go lower than 14 though, with the possibility of awarding a 1st round bye to the top seed in each conference. The bottom line is that Bettman and Co. have MANY things to discuss but they don’t seem to be doing much of anything these days. It seems like the league has reached a stagnation point and Bettman is perfectly happy with the current status quo. Kinda sad really…

DEFINITELY a tough sell to the owners. Might be a different story for the players though. I’m sure many of the traditionalists would be outraged at the thought of shortening the playoffs but I also think that there are many players that wouldn’t mind at all. In 2 months or less, they have the possibility of playing 28 high intensity, balls to the wall hockey games. It just doesn’t make any sense. In last year’s playoffs, the Habs played 19 games between April 15th and May 24th. If the owners are worried about lost revenues then maybe they should also be worried about protecting their investments, i.e the players.

Thats one thing that doesnt get mentioned anymore. We get shots on net. No more are the years of being outshot and hoping your PP and goalie are hot…. ok, well we get shots on net. 5 years ago it seemed like we were always outshot by 10-20.

By that logic, your proposed playoff format is counter-productive as it reduces playoff revenues for owners and it avoids the “win or go home” scenario. What I would like to see is less teams making the playoffs. A divisional re-alignment combined with an NFL-style wildcard playoff format (still retaining a best of 7 series configuration) would go a long way. Firstly, it would keep top-tier teams motivated to keep playing at the end of the season even if they have clinched the division as they would be vying for that coveted first-round bye. Secondly, the race for 6th would be a lot more entertaining than the race for 8th mediocrity.

The most successful sports league in North America, the NFL, adheres to a “winner takes all” playoff format. Every round is just one game. Granted, one NFL game is equivalent to about 3-4 hockey games, but that doesn’t change the fact that Americans love the fact that “on any given sunday, team X can beat team Y”. If Bettman is trying to popularize hockey in the United States, then he should realize that they LOVE watching sporting events where it’s win or go home. A seven game series for anything other than the Stanley Cup finals is overkill. I don’t think anyone around the league (players, management, owners etc) will go hungry if they remove eight games from the playoff schedule.

I understand your idea, but playoff revenues are far too hot a commodity for this to ever happen. Any idea that will lower profitibility is a non-starter right from the get-go. Also, I imagine playoff hockey gets more broadcasts or at least more viewers in the U.S. and that is what the owners and Bettman are ultimately vying for.

Just like to add my two cents regarding an earlier post about reducing the number of games played.

I really don’t have a problem with the current divisional format or the lengthly 82 game schedule. However, I DO have a problem with the fact that the playoffs can be, at most, an additional 28 games. In my opinion, that is insane. My proposed playoff format is as follows:

1st round: Best of 3

2nd round: Best of 5

3rd round: Best of 5

4th round: Best of 7

This would increase the importance/intensity of every game played in the first three rounds and decrease the (maximum) amount of games played to 20. I realize that this wouldn’t be a very popular proposition amongst the owners and league brass because of the lost revenues but I still think that it should be strongly considered.

I hear you, Chuck. Assuming Mario really does think that way (who knows though), it would have gone a long way if he would have put something to that effect into words/writing when he released his statement. It would’ve added a lot of credibility to his (important) message.

Completely agree! The very THOUGHT of an active player’s father having the title of league disciplinarian just screams BS.

This would NEVER be allowed in any professional sport, let alone the major ones like the NFL, NBA, and MLB. NEVER! Makes the NHL look completely bush-league and can only impede its progress and market growth down south (not that I expect many Americans to even know this little tidbit of information given that Greg is far from a star player).

Completely agree that it minimizes Mario’s credibility that he employs Matt Cooke who is not only considered a dirty player, but has so very recently committed the types of violations Mario is complaining about.

On the other hand, it’s about time an owner spoke up PUBLICLY about how messed up (and inconsistent) Colie’s disciplinary decisions are and about how out-of-hand that game was. Games like that, ours against Boston, and the Boston/Dallas game make the NHL look like a circus on Testosterone and Steroids. The fact that Mario is a former superstar will give his comments more media attention and hopefully apply more pressure on Colie to start doing his damn job right.

If only Mario had combined his comments with an announcement that Cooke would either be bought-out, sent to the minors, or even receive some internal team suspension/fine/discipline, then his comments would have carried a lot more weight.

Thoughts on today’s posts:
I celebrate every game the Bruins lose. They disgraced themselves with their goonery, in a meaningless game, a couple of years ago, and even though they took us out in 4, our boys played with the hearts of lions (particulary Saku) and rendered them useless for the next round.
Komisaruk was real bad long before before Lucic landed the big punch. That was sad, but not as sad as Lucic not being man enough to fight Laroque. Lucic was second man in on PK in the recent game, that is an old tactic for admitting your scared of a fair fight.
Colin Campbell should resign his position until his son retires. Too much of a conflict of interest. Rididuclous.
From a player’s point of view the way to deal with a guy like Chara (who should have been suspended for his hack on Pacs), is to carve him up with your stick, or shoot the puck at his head. Hockey is sad when it comes down to this, but this is what they have let it become. Remove the instigator rule.
I’d take Kovy for a fifth rounder in a second.
Gomez is a pretty decent hockey player. If you don’t like the salary, the NHL should adopt cap rules that allow you to trade a player and assume part of his salary, that part being part of your cap. That way, if we felt we could do better with a 4.5 million dollar player, we could trade Gomer and assume 2 million per year of his contract, and come out ahead.
Something about this team I really like, PK, all the young guys, some real skill. I can do without Pyatt, the current version of Halpern, Moen (in all but 3 games this year), and Eller (just not there yet), but the rest are pretty decent.

The league has done a 180. First they said that everything would be penalized and that the hockey would be fast. Now they refuse to punish career threatening hits to the head, and senseless brawls.

Maybe it’s just Colie trying to help his son ans his Bruins. They would be the biggest beneficiary of 1970s style Broad Street Bully type hockey.

If the game is called the way it’s supposed to be called, the Habs would be 10 points up on Colie’s Bruins. However, we have seen the Bruins sucker punch, hit from behind, hold, interfere, run goalies, and basically create mayhem, and no punishment is dished out,

Also, the emergence of MaxPac has reduced the need for a power forward. Not saying we couldn’t use another cuz I believe those types of players are valuable, but I don’t think PG will sacrifice much for a second PWR.F when Defense is our only main concern as long as MaxPac can keep it up. He knows that without Marky and Gorges we’re even more of a long shot for the cup and I doubt he’ll sell the farm to make a run for this year.

I just hope MaxPac can keep it up cuz in reality, he hasn’t been up that long and we’ve gotten excited about players before who didn’t pan out but showed promise like Max has for even longer periods of time (see Higgins and Ryder). Let’s hope Max can continue and improve!

According to Brian Wilde, Pacioretty left the arena looking comfortable and not favoring his arm at all. Good sign, but we will see tomorrow if there is anything wrong. I don’t think it is anything serious.

I wouldn’t do this deal. The Habs wouldn’t do this deal. The Isles wouldn’t do this deal.

I like Okposo so I see where you’re going with this, but I (and I’m assuming PG) wouldn’t trade a 1st OR Leblanc for Okposo straight-up, let alone add the other pieces or combine the two. The Isles are rebuilding but they need to keep their existing young valuable players because they have a dwindling fan-base and need to start being more competitive to stop the monetary bleeding and increase revenues. They’re not gonna do that if they keep trading for futures.

I like your idea of Downie too and posted earlier today on here that I think Ryane Clowe would be the ultimate type of player for what we need and mentioned that Downie is sort of a “lower-budget” version of him (less expensive, younger so still developing, but a higher propensity for PIMs than points compared to Clowe so RC is the better choice IMO). And I agree that Stevie Y isn’t likely to trade him unless he got a lot in return.

Ok. First problem, Okposo is with the Islanders. Two, LeBlanc? After seeing him in the junior tourney, I’d say no way. Plus, it’s hard enough getting Quebec boys to come play for us, and now that we’ve got one in the system, you wanna toss him away? I think getting Okposo would be great, but not if it means Louie goes away.

Wow! What a night with the Grammy’s! Congrats to Arcade Fire! Ready To Start is such a wicked awesome song!
I also really enjoyed Muse’s performance!

All this awesome music only means one thing. The Habs need a new song to skate out to. I’m thinking Uprising by Muse, or Ready to Start as a salute to the homeboys. Fix You is awesome, and it gives me chills watching them skate out to it on TV, but it’s time to upgrade the soundtrack a little bit.

I was just about to post this. I don’t pay much attention to the Grammy’s because i’m not into the music they celebrate, but today is a great day for Arcade Fire and a good day for Canadian music. Incredible.

As the trade deadline is approaching and rumours are surfacing, I decided to do some research and see which player could fit Montreal’s system. There are several things I considered while making my assesment and chosing the right player for the team. There are 3 main criteria I set for myself.

1. The player must be big to protect our smaller players (preferably a top 6)

2. Must not be a rental. Gauthier already declared he won’t be sacrificing the future for rentals.

3.The other team must be a seller

I came up with Kyle Okposo. He’s 6’0 and 210 pounds. He’s a forward who put up 38 points and 52 points the last 2 season including 18 and 19 goals respectively. Atlanta will surely be a seller at trade deadline, and he could fit the Habs organization very well. Also, he won’t be a rental, and at 22 he’s showing a hell lots of potential. But the age also plays a major role in the flaw of my assessment. Seller teams won’t sell youth but still it doesn’t hurt to evaluate a player and see what it would take to land him. Personally, I would give up Kostitsyn, Weber and Leblanc or Kostitsyn, Leblanc and a 1st to have him on our team. We need power forwards in the team and guys who can protect our smaller and talented players. I could see our first line as Gio-Gomez-Patches, 2nd: Okposo-Plecks-Cammy, 3rd: White-Deharnais-Pouliot, 4th: Moen-Halpern-Darche.

I know the price is very high but I strongly believe another energetic, young and power forward would push us to the next level. Would you do the deal? What would you give instead or who would you trade for?

I agree with needing the size that Okposo has, however we should stick with Kostitsin and look for better offers for him. Leblanc is not going anywhere! We cannot give up our youth for a big forward when we can get it in other offers.

There are not many Americans that do understand the unprofessionalism portrayed by the Campbells, However this American knows and it pisses me off! That punk needs to be suspended for what he did last week but we all know that nothing will come of it. The Flyers and Bruins are America’s hard hitting hockey money maker, their reputation alone are about 50% of their fan base, the rest are citizens of their respected local area. Anyone who loves hockey for only goonery is never a true fan of hockey, and thats why they can never appreciate Les Club De Hockey Canadiens!!

No !!! Change nothing about the playoffs. It is gruelling and tough to win for a reason. If you win it 100 years from now your kids will be taking your grandkids and great grandkids to the Hall of Fame to see the cup…..and your name will be there for all to see. This is a priviledge that must be earned by paying the price.

There’s been quite a bit of fighting in the playoffs the last few years. Fighting isn’t the important part of playing the Bruis or Flerys though. It’s being too small and getting smashed to pieces and carried off the ice.

Here are a couple of additional points to cover the revenue aspect and lack thereof that reducing the number of games would impact.

alone among the major North American sports leagues (i.e football , baseball and hockey) hockey is dependent more on game attendance for its revenues than any other source. In fact TV revenue in the U.S. is virtually non-existent. Bearing that in mind, why would the NHL push to put or retain franchises in sun-belt cities where there is very little interest in the sport to begin with and attendance figures are a joke. What’s the point in locating in a city of 2 to 3 million if all you can average is 5 or 6 thousand a game. Surely that’s a guaranteed formula to generate nothing but red ink. But put that same team in say a Canadian city of 400 to 500 thousand and I can pretty well guarantee you’ll fill an arena of 20,000 seat capacity every game. Fewer games yes, but the increase in paid attendance will more than compensate for the loss of fewer fans in a disinterested city.

even if you were to keep those sun-belt franchises where they are (a very risky investment decision at best) and added say ten more in cities that will actually fill their arenas despite having smaller populations, the league would rise to 40 teams and the regular schedule to 78 games. Not much difference from the current 82, but the bigger crowds will generate much more revenue.

even if the total number of games were reduced, then it stands to reason that expenses would also be reduced as well as revenues. Operations would continue but on an overall lower level yet retain much the same profit ratio. Salaries would naturally need to be pro-rated to reflect fewer performances and travel budgets would be lower.

the stark fact remains that hockey is a snow-belt game. It never was and never will be of much interest to sun-belt dwellers no matter how much Gary Bettman wants that to happen. To them ice is something you put in your drink to keep it cool and that’s it. The major U.S. networks aren’t interested in hockey and they get far better numbers from golf and NASCAR anyway. I seriously doubt that there’ll be an influx of enough expatriate Canadians moving down there to fill each NHL sun-belt arena.

since the current strategy is failing why not concentrate in areas where you are strong. For example, given the immense support that Regina and Saskatchewan as a whole gives the ‘Riders, I don’t think anybody could possibly doubt that they’d just as strongly support an NHL team and every game would be sold out. The same would almost certainly be true for Hamilton or Halifax. Now that’s positive revenue. Build an arena and they will come.

Even mentioning reducing the number of games destroys any chance of a notion like yours being taken seriously. There’s just no way reducing revenue in an already struggling league makes any sense whatsoever.

Hey Gary, the league you’re supposed to be overseeing is degenerating into a sea of revenge-fueled grudge matchs primarily caused by the idiotic structure that’s been imposed on it.

The NHL should be a single entity. It’s not. It’s composed of six separate five-team garage leagues that have far too many games among themselves. I can’t be the only hockey fan who’s getting increasingly annoyed and turned off by watching the Habs, for example, play umpteen games a season with the Leafs, Senators, Bruins and Sabres and yet we’re only lucky to see teams like the Canucks or Flames here once every two years?! Utterly ridiculous. Given the choice I’d prefer to see the Sedins play at least as many times as those two imbeciles Campbell and Lucic.

The old saying ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ really does prove itself through the arbitrary throwing together of these groups of five teams into their own divisions. The recent Habs-Bruins and Penguins-Islanders brawls are just the latest proof of this. It will only continue as repetitive and frequent contact encourages that ‘wrongs done’ are easily remembered and retribution inevitable.

What’s just as bad is how the current structure skews rankings for the playoffs where often the best teams battle among themselves early in the rounds leaving awful mismatchs for what’s supposed to be the ultimate, the Stanley Cup Final. I’ve lost track of the number of lopsided games and 5-game Finals there’ve been as a result of the goofy organisational setup.

The solution is elegantly straightforward and easy to implement. A single league with no divisions or conferences and a completely interlocking schedule. At present, the 30 team league would see each team play every other team twice in the regular season, once in their home rink and once in their opponents. This would give a current schedule of 58 regular season games for each team. The benefits of such a structure would be large. Here are just a few:

no more ridiculous games on back to back nights. It does a disservice both to the players who just get worn down (and often more prone to injury) and the fans who often wind up paying top dollar to see an exhausted team go through the motions unable to compete with a fresher opponent.

it would make expansion a fairly easy process. If further games a season were warranted, it could be done by giving a franchise to cities that would actually be interested in hockey such as Winnipeg, Regina, Quebec City, Halifax or St. John’s in Canada or Seattle, Portland, Boise or Maine in the U.S. (Additional note to Gary: no more sun-belt franchises as they don’t have an adequate fan base or are even interested in hockey at all anyway). Each added franchise would simply add two more games to each teams regular schedule.

the playoff structure is simplified. With a 30 team league again for example, the top half (rounded up to give an even number) would give the best 16 teams the right to play for the Cup at the end of the regular schedule.

it would introduce far more variety and inject more interest for fans as well in that theoretically at the start of each season, any two teams can ultimately wind up facing each other in the Cup final. The present clumsy structure doesn’t allow for that at all. I’m sure almost every fan would lick their lips at the possibility of seeing dream matchups like the Habs-Bruins, Capitals-Penguins, Red Wings-Blackhawks or Canucks-Flames to name only a few, play in the Final series.

There are many other issues that need to be adressed such as financial, contractual and disciplinarian, but those are not insurmountable and can be handled in turn with a likewise logical and honest approach.

I imagine that Gary won’t likely see this open letter but hey….you never know. Maybe it’ll give someone food for thought.

No chance the number of games is reduced as our beloved NHL is a business after all. I work for a great company, but they are not inclined to reduce my hours or give me more time off for the same pay.

Lowering the number of regular season games would wreak havoc on the record books (but would allow most fans the opportunity to spend summer weekends boating at the lake versus watching the Cup Final).

The mash-ups this past week have unfortunately heightened interest in the NHL. The division rivalries do create tension (wrongs done) and excitement (blood /guts), which increase discussion, debate, interest, and revenue. The other major sports are similar (MLB,NFL). Not saying it’s right, just sayin’.

Fans love to see a David vs Goliath Stanley Cup final – nothing more of a buzz kill than watching the two pre-season fav’s battling it out at the end. Mr Bettman has no specific interest in which teams play for the Cup, but quietly hopes it involves two (US) cities (New York vs LA would work) that would generate interest, growth, and revenue.

The population base on a few potential cities you mention are likely too small to support an NHL team. Seattle, the Peg, and QC are possible relocation sites, but unfortunately, Mr Bettman would only consider another US city as he is tasked with growing the fan base, and not much interested in better serving the audience the NHL already holds captive.

I was trying to figure out if Kovalev would fit cap wise, I’m unable to verify with the obvious send-down for a forward that would have to occur, I’m not sure its possible, albeit very close either way.

That said, I don’t think the organization wants to do this, it’ll be interesting to see where he ends up next year.

if we lose out on the Phillips or Neil sweepstakes, we dont need to add someone just for the sake of making a move, especially someone who has already wore out his welcome here. Kovalev has already proved he plays 1 out of 10 or 12 games, I would sooner have Koivu who left it on the ice every game. If we cant sign anyone, keep who we have, Max is coming around, so is Benny and a handful of others!

with kovalev is like jekyl and hyde during the season. one season he scores 35 goals and 84 points and another season he doesnt give a fu*k. but from all the four years ive seen him play for the habs, come playoff time the guy is totally a diffrent player. he can be deadly on the power play. and hey he really wants to come to montreal. if all fails why not get him.

i’ve been thinking about the exact same thing. to tell you the truth, now that i think of it, i don’t think he will mess up the atmosphere in the lockerroom. it’s different this time around because hypothetically ofcourse, he would be comming back at the end of the season and would play a less dominant role. more of a in-the-background player who would seek to fit in the mold. plus the leaders on our team right now, gill, gionta, etc are mature veterans who personally i feel would be able to handle having back on the team without it being too awkward. who knows though, it’s kovalev after all. do we really need another AK though if he doesn’t produce?

OK! This is stupid I know. And anone who has read any of my remarks re this player knows that I have very little respect for this player’s dedication… but…

With so many teams in our Division/Conference probably eyeing the same players (say a Phillips and/or a Neil type), could it be that if we are shutout of the sweepstake and deadline is upon us with no prospect… could it be that we rent this player to add some offense.

Yes my friends.. Is there anyway Kovalev could land in Mtl.

It would be only in a situation where PG has NOT only come up empty but where other teams like Boston have ‘improved’ and it leaves him no choice but to at least add ‘potential offense’.

This season and his drop in fortunes may have taught Kovalev a lesson finally. And I dont see him being a sought after commodity, nor really requiring anything in return but a conditional 2nd to 3rd round pick if that.

I am just saying if we lose out in efforts to land the other more ‘attractive’ players.. do we just do nothing or bite the bullet and take a gander at having him back for the playoffs. Even if he contributes 5 goals in 3 rouds they may be 5 important goals.And just having him on the ice may free up room for other player sto shine.

Just a weird idea I cant shake… mainly because I fear the player(s) we really want may be taken or their price may be too high.

I gave my t- shirt to charity. That was a bad year for me and buying habs t shirts. Was there for the playoffs against the bruins. Saku and companies last two games. I bought kovy and komisarek t-shirts along with a Koivu jersey. my bro also got a Tommy K jersey. Lappy was the only tshirt that survived that year.

forget penner to Montreal. i really want theo peckham. tough candian kid, who can drop em’. if pg decides to trade webber, imo we should trade webber for peckham.put him with PK. sopk can piss off somone, and if they wanna mess with pk, peckham would beat them up. personnally i dont think pg has to make a blockbuster move to make this team better.you make small trades like this and make this team tougher. with peckham, you would have white and wisniewski, moen and may be another guy( i really want downie, but steve y would be a lil’ bitch and would want a lot in return

Is it possible to sign players to a 1 game contract. If is it, I would love to see PG sign Donald Brashear, George Larocque, and Evgeny Artyukhin to 1 game contracts. The game, March 8th. Come on PG, revenge would be so sweet.

One small point, I lived in Seattle for a time, absolutely no chance at an NHL team. About as many fans as a sunbelt team would have, and the other issue, they have no rink, Key Arena is very old and actually quite small. For being so close to the border though the lack of interest in hockey is amazing. Could also have to do with the insane cost for youth programs.

i agree. he really can’t hurt the team. he is a proven clutch playoff performer. the combination of the playoffs being around the corner and being back to play for the city he loves will definately motivate him. he’s got something like 5 goals 3 assists in the last 6 games. he shouldnt mess up the chem, at worst place him on the 3rd line with AK and Gomez. lol the enigma line kovy-gomez-AK

Who was it that signed the midget (is that politically correct) to a one day contract in baseball. Least that’s how the story goes. And I am sure some hockey player recently signed a one game contract so he would achieve some milestone. I am think Gordie Howe but something tells me was more recent.

hits…hits…and more hits. i know eklund is complete bs but i can’t help myself from looking at the nonsense he writes. del zotto for phillips? really ek? yeah, let’s trade a 20 year old 1st round pick defensemen who notched 37 points in his 1st nhl season for an aging UFA-to-be defensemen. you would think he would come up with rumours that actually make sense, being that they’re made up and all.

yeah usually he gets this info from other sites like bob mckenzie or kevin allen’s twitter, a tsn page, etc…which is fine really because he’s reporting something accurate. but the stuff he rambles on about is purely out of his own imagination. he just goes on and on.

Just cant see the Gomez deal. And you know EE is just yapping. But I too read his ‘rumours’ and I do believe that there are gonna be ‘bidding wars’ for some of the players he has mentioned. That may exclude Habs from really competing for their services. So I am intrigued by his tease re Kovalev.

Alright guys, I think everyone has established that HockeyBuzz isn’t really a rumor site … I only posted it because it is interesting to discuss things like Gomez being traded… Never mind though. Guess no one has any opinions of their own.

Personally, I find it entertaining to read what he writes, I mean I don’t care if it is crap, there are actually some good writers on the site like EE and Steve Hindle as well. Mixes in with the stupidity that Eklund usually writes.

It is refreshing to see a player like DD working hard every shift. I would put Pach’s with him. It is obvious they have some chemistry and would help spread out our scoring. If Gomez doesn’t start producing start giving DD some more ice time. He has earned it

He crapped on Montreal when he left to go to the rival Maple Leafs for practically the same salary.
Probably if he would have left here to sign with a team like Nashville or Columbus it wouldn’t have been as big a deal…..

We already have a big forward who’s inconsistent but shows flashes of brilliance. We call him AK46 and his cap hit is 1mil less than Penner’s and he is also a few years younger. How many times have folks on here said AK is useless, overpaid, and we need to get rid of him. For 4.25mil, I’d like to think we can get a considerably better player than Penner.

If it hadn’t been Lucic it could have just as easily been someone else, if Komisarek can fall apart because he got beat down badly in a fight than he isn’t captain material in Montreal, not by a long shot.

amazing how one little thing can change a lot of things. consider this for a second. the year we drafted ben maxwell, we drafted him just before lucic. had we drafted lucic, we wouldve had the big force upfront, mike komisarek never wouldve got his as* kicked by lucic. who knows he mightve still stayed with montreal, maybe even the current captain.

He may not have crapped on them, but he sure snubbed them. As for whining about the way he’s spoken about, ex-players are treated with the same respect as current players. If they’re awful, it will be discussed.

Here’s an example of the BS hypocrisy that comes from Colin Cambell. He was just quoted saying:

“The message should be clear to all players: targeting the head of an opponent by whatever means will be dealt with by suspension.”

Yet on Feb 2/11, when Jordan Staal was set to receive an automatic one game suspension due to his match penalty for SUCKER PUNCHING A PLAYER IN THE HEAD, Colin saw fit to rescind the automatic one game suspension. So as you can see I’m getting mixed signals from Mr. Cambell. As I mentioned before, this guy was caught red-handed sending inappropriate emails to refs about specific penalties called against his son that he didn’t like. How does this guy still have a job? Why did the media let this fall between the cracks? If that happened in MLB, or NFL the furor would lead to the guy getting canned. The fact alone that this guy’s kid play’s in the NHL is enough conflict of interest alone to not have him in that position. I agree 100% with super Mario, the clowns running the NHL are dragging it down in the gutter and making it the joke of pro sports.

I’d take Neil. He’s the kind of 4th line guy we could use – big and mean. Not a lot of use in terms of points, but he’s not expensive (2 mil?) and will take the front line in standing up for his team everytime all the time. An agitator with a little bit of talent and while not quite as big is mean enough to step in against the Lucics and Prongers.

Doesn’t matter. Lemieux is not sick of people breaking rules, he’s talking about intent to injure. Cooke always tried to injure opposing players with his dangerous plays. He should have been called on it by his own organization if they weren’t hypocrites. Regardless of the rules.

Neil is trade bait for sure. He’s signed for the next 2 years excluding this one. Rumour has it he is shocked and unhappy that Fisher (his best friend on the team) was dealt, and rightly so (wtf Bryan Murray??).

He isn’t as good as he was a few years ago but the guy was the example of a perfect 4th liner. I’ll take him on my team

And who will make a move for him? He’s able to put up points (not even doing that this season) but he’s REALLY soft in his own end. And his 5.5 M cap hit makes it almost impossible to trade him.

Only moves I can see from Ottawa are Kovalev (potentially being traded to Pitt), Philips, Ruutu aaaand…that’s it. I don’t see a lot of return coming the other way for their roster players.

Their draft pick will help their roster, but I don’t expect them to be any better next season. Unless big, FA acquisitions are made. Or a trade involving Alfreddson/Michalek.

I am assuming Karlsson and Spezza are untouchables. I actually think their roster can drastically improve if they trade Spezza – he can bring a lot of value in return. Anyways, I am not a GM, but I don’t see them improving otherwise. Getting rid of Gonchar and Kovalev is a start.

Buff one of the hottest teams in the East right now so it would be a huge mistake to underestimate them. Do you know what their record is in their last 10. It doesn’t matter how many points they have, the way they are playing now and the games they have in hand, they will make the playoffs. Calgary and Vancouver are 2 of the hottest teams in the west, and both we be very tough. The Habs will be up for these games and hope they do well. I just hope they don’t think they’ll coast in and out of Edmonton and get upset in that one.

Campbell is a JOKE. His “I don’t review my son’s team’s actions” is an even BIGGER joke.

Yeah sure, I don’t do it because that would be biased. So instead I let my hand-picked subordinate do it. Oh yeah, THAT’s REALLY hands-off. LMAO. Colin Campbell you are as legitimate and professional as Don F Cherry.

After looking at the suspensions handed out to the Islanders and Penguins brawl on skates game, i wonder (actually i am shocked at) why nothing was handed out for the Bruins Habs game…

Taken from the NHL rule book:

46.2 Aggressor – The aggressor in an altercation shall be the player who continues to throw punches in an attempt to inflict punishment on his opponent who is in a defenseless position or who is an unwilling combatant.

A player must be deemed the aggressor when he has clearly won the fight but he continues throwing and landing punches in a further attempt to inflict punishment and/or injury on his opponent who is no longer in a position to defend himself.

A player who is deemed to be the aggressor of an altercation shall be assessed a major penalty for fighting and a game misconduct.

A player who is deemed to be the aggressor of an altercation will have this recorded as an aggressor of an altercation for statistical and suspension purposes.

This rule should have applied to Thorton, Campbell and Lucic who all were throwing punches while their oponent were defensless and no longer fighting. None of them received game misconducts or suspensions…

Lemieux calls out league. Crosby sits , takes his time , he said the league had to do something about the hits to the head when he was first injured. the die has been cast let the games begin. Crosby has sent a message ,were not putting up with it anymore.

I am as upset at the NHL and specifically Colin Campbell as I ever have been as a fan of hockey. I’m not upset about the outcome of the Bruins game this week. What upsets me is that Colin Campbell said that he removes himself from any potential reviews for disiciplinary action when his son’s team is involved and that it is either a blatant lie or he does so knowing that his son’s team won’t be penalized.

I’ve been thinking of some things that have occured this season. First of which is Lucic’s punch to Freddy Meyer. Meyer had no clue the punch was coming. Match penalty overturned and a $10,000 fine administered. Second of which was the Dallas game a few weeks ago. Three fights in the first five seconds of the game. Not one instigator penalty was assessed and not a single fine for the Bruins organization. Third was this last week against the Habs. Thorton and Boychuck incited a line brawl by INSTIGATING fights with Hamrlik and Spacek. McQuaid got 4 minutes for roughing at the end of the game for trying to fight two players. Not one instigator penalty, no supplementary discipline for Julien and no fines assessed. Gregory Campbell also hit Tom Pyatt in the face with his elbow pad more than four times in a fight. In case you`re wondering, a goaltender who throws a punch with his blocker on is assessed a match penalty immediately.

This isn`t speculation anymore. This is evidence of a clear bias in the NHL. Whether it`s Campbell or whoever he delegates responsibility to when his son`s team is involved, there is a bias. The NHL fined the Islanders $100,000 and suspended two of its players for fighting this week.

This is disgusting. Somebody should come up with a nickname for Campbell which illustrates clealy his aura of invincibility. Because it exists.

next 4 games will not be easy…sabres at home tues we should win this game…thurs the oilers may play the game like it is their championship game…outdoor game in calgary hard to predict…vancouver will be pumped to play us…5/8 points would not be that bad anything better a bonus…

Colin Campbell came down with hefty suspensions for some players, during the Isles-Pens brawl. WTF happened with his son punching Pyatt repeatly with his elbow pad? NHL has become a shit hole when dealing with incidents. No consistency!!!!

The guy didnt play bad during the pre-season. i’d even go as far as saying he was arguably solid. He was in the “plus” column and never looked out of place. He was communicating really well on the ice.

Btw he is a signed player by the Canadiens, not the Bulldogs. He IS a HAB whetever you like his skating or not.

Also noticed that! They preferred to show the laffs walking out with their tails between their legs, they also didn’t show the 3 stars like they usually do when the laffs win or play at home. Sore losers!

It’s true… and a good reminder that a tough guy or two isn’t the one big answer to a team’s troubles. But I still think that having a mean SOB up front to stand around the net would take some pressure of our other guys and help keep other teams from just keeping us away from the net. When we lose, it’s often that – we just don’t have net presence. For that you need more toughness.

Henry’s 30 and in the AHL for a reason, he has trouble keeping up with the speed of the new NHL. Same reason former Habs prospect Shawn Belle is still going through the AHL despite being something of a tank on skates. Henry does a lot more for MTL as the captain of the Bulldogs by mentoring the young prospects and keeping that team going than by being a 7th defencemen in Montreal.

Am I the only who thinks the 7th D on this team should be alex henry? He does pretty much what we expect of O’byrne.Im totally aware that he is 30 and many labeled him career AHLer a long time ago but everytime hes on the ice he brings toughness, gives those big hits. IMO he would do real good to the time playing him against those big teams. Im aware he makes mistakes and gets stupiud penalties but however, he has the ability to shift momentom with that big hit and hes not scared of dropping them.

In one we have the Bruins trying to become the Big Bad Bruins all over again.

In another we have two teams who are developing a serious hate for each but in the case of the Isles-Pens match-up the Isles came back at the Pens and handed out some retribution.

That is what the league is punishing. Not the fighting. That the Isles took the law into their own hands.

To quote Konopka, “We needed to push back and make everyone realize that we want our best players on the ice and we want them in the future so we’re going to have to take care of them.”

So rather than deal with the root issue which is how the Pens played in the prior game they are going after the Isles for sending a message.

I doubt teams like the Isles will stop sending messages unless teams like Pittsburgh and others who intentionally try to injure get dealt with accordingly.

That is why the Habs need size and grit both up front and on the back end. PK needs someone like Henry to protect him. The Smurfs do too. I am not saying goons, but players with both size and an edge. Teams cannot afford to have soft players if they are small. Gionta is small but in no way is he soft. Spacek is soft. Nevertheless Gio shouldn’t be fighting nor should PK, however they should be able to hold their ground while real heavy weights enforce the law.

A player like Chara or Pronger would be a welcome addition on the Habs.

As it stands though it’s less about losing a few fights or getting a shiner here and there or a few stitches on the face, it’s the injuries to key players that take them out of the game that worry me and that is the end result when teams cannot defend themselves against goonery and thugery.

Hopefully Gill comes back soon and the Habs maybe sit Pyatt in favour of White when either Darche or Cammy returns.

True enough. But McGuire’s lack of accountability has been driving me crazy of late. During the last Habs game on TSN he said something to the effect of “Price had a lot of people questioning him in the summer. Well he’s answered them.”

Would it have killed him to say “I had questions about Price, but boy he’s sure answered them this year!”

It’s like he’s incapable of ever admitting he was wrong about anything.

You’ll be waiting a long time, but Pierre is always quick to remind us when he’s right!

I heard him on Melnick on Thursday, he had the nerve to say that Pouliot shoudn’t have been picking on Krechi, that if he was looking for a fight, Lucic and Thornton were on the ice too. Can you believe that? Benny looking for a fight? Come on Pierre, that axe you’re grinding has had it’s day, time to stop being a sour puss vs the Habs because they didn’t hire you as a GM.

I’m not opposed to adding a big/mean/tough player to our 4th line and was mildly intrigued by Neil the other day, but have since changed my mind. Here’s some food for thought:

– Neil hasn’t played more than 68 games/season once in the past three years, and has been a minus player for those three seasons as well (four including this season to-date).

– At BEST you can expect 20 points/season from the guy, realistically.

– At age 31, he’s starting on the downswing of his career as is usual for grinder types. Point production will decline as will games played and overall effectiveness. He’s also signed for 2 more years after this season.

IMO, 2mil/season is a lot to pay a 4th liner considering we currently have Pyatt and Moen combined for the same price, both of whom are younger and defensively responsible, and yet still get a lot of flack on this site for being considered ineffective.

While pests/agitator types have their place, it seems PK and even MaxPac to an extent are quite competent in that area. I’d prefer adding a more silent-type of tough guy (like what BGL was supposed to be). Someone who doesn’t chirp much to the opponent, but has that way about him where opponents know he’s there for business, and his business is to rectify any liberties taken against his mates with his fists, instill fear, and be effective in this regard (without being a pure goon) when needed. Not being a defensive liability and chipping in more than 20 points per year is a must. Basically the type of player who when players on the opposing team see him jump over the boards are wondering if he’s just taking his regular shift, or worried he may be coming after them for some BS they tried to pull on one of our guys.

Having too many agitators may make our whole team hated and our entire roster a target, including our smaller skilled guys. Just a long version of my $0.02

You mean how they beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs last year? The Penguins have the most minor and major penalties this year, nto to mention the most PIMs in general, and have participated in the most fights. They haven’t changed much since last year also, same basic core as the team we defeated in the playoffs and have been beating this season also.

So your comment on how we can never beat a tough team in a 7 game series is completely flawed.

There’s no fighting in the playoffs, and the refs usually call the playoffs pretty tight so stuff like the Beantown brawl doesn’t occur. I’m not too worried about the Habs having to fight their way to a stanley cup.

Habs have two problems against the tough teams..too small..and not a good scoring team most games..sometimes they fool us..but a 5 or 7 game series..they’ed never last against the rough stuff night after night..other than that the Habs are not a bad team…..

I agree also, I have questions about his defensive game and wonder if the offensive trade off is worth probably around 4 million, which Wiz will get. I have to see more games and especially see how he can handle the tough playoff style, before I say for sure.

Does anyone mind if I insert into the ‘lovey dovey’ mood today a HUGE word of caution re giving the WIZ big money to stay … Before that is done explore all options. Not sure WIZ is big money defenseman.

We’ve been looking for a guy like Patches for at least 15 years. Maybe Muller was the last player we had like him, although Muller was a Center. Higgins did have one year that can be compared to the type of player Patches is/will be. If PG trades him, I will personally protest Molson for his firing.

It is revelant, because that 2008-09 team was not a close team who didn’t play for each other and you could tell by the many meetings the team had and the walks and discussions Gainey had with player(s). That year was the year of the Kostityns being known pals with a known Mafia person. Higgins had so much luggage uner his eyes, make no wonder he couldn’t skate carrying all that around. Komariek, if I’m not mistaken was the year he lost that fight to luchicken and was never the same.

Laraque, had a code that must be upheld, Latendresse was busy blaming everyone else for his poor play. Tanguay was way too weak and never lived up to his ability. We had a defenseman named Doug Janik who we got got Steve Begin, in the Dallas deal. Begin, was not the player he once was and seem to lose his drive. He played the following year for Boston, and whjere is he now?

Pacorietty and Weber were not ready for NHL action at this time. Stewart was only a role player who was called upon to do the job Laraque was suppose to do. Stewart was only a light weight and could do that job. I think he is still in the minors for Edmonton.

Price, still was learning and in a city like Montreal with the night life was not a good thing for Price and instead of putting him with a veteran to live or show the ropes he was left to live on his own and with Higgins, Komisarek,Chipchura, and D’Agostini and the picyures of the parties they had, who could concentrate on the hockey games.

The only true players the Habs really had whoI think truly tried to carry the team was Koivu, Lang, Boullion, markov, Dandenault, Brisebois, and Hamrlik.

The rest of the players like Lapierre, Gorges, Halak, Kostopoulos, were caught in the middle. It was every man for themselves. This is why Gainey did a full evaluation in the off season after the Boston sweep and let 10 players walk away.

The past couple of years, the veterans with more maturity as a person and more of a “TEAM” player(s) were bought in to show this team how to win as a group and play for each other. Players like Price who we can all see by this seasons play looks like he has matured, Pacorietty and Weber have made great strides and we see it now in their play or they wouldn’t be up with the big club.

That brawl the other night in Boston done more to galvanize this team than anything else. If this was to have happened 3 seasons ago, do you think Kovalev would have jumped in the way Gionta did, or what about Higgins, do you think he would have stepped up like Tom Pyatt. Players on this years team like Spacek and Pyatt are not fighters but will drop their gloves to pick up for their teammates. This is what the team sees as a whole and this is what will make this team overcome the brawl as opposed to hiding with their tail between their legs like a lot of so called experts are calling.

This team has a lot of injuries and only time will tell if they are able to duplicate last seasons performance in the post season. I know one thing, this team will not go down easily and it will take every bit of strength a team got to put the Habs out of the playoffs and I much rather see that than to just roll over and fold like that of three years ago. If Boston thinks that this brawl they had will scare away the Canadiens then they are the ones truly fooling themselves.

I said the record this season is relevant. Just not the record since the lockout as you posted. You can add last season’s record also, because the teams were quite similar. I think the Bruins got pissed off, because they had that 1-8 record since last season and said we’re going to take it to them, the way we can. Gomez’s line is part of the team, so saying well if they didn’t suck, thigs would have been different is a little odd. They did suck and may suck again next time if played against the same way, even though I doubt they will be together. As I said, I’m don’t think people should lose their minds over it. The Habs will make adjustments and we’ll see what happens next time.

So the 3 straight wins this season, and the 5-1-0 last are an aberration? Neither team has had that much of a change since last season and the record holds 8-2-0 since then. Wheeler, Ryder, Krejci and Bergeron are not hard-charging brutal forwards, Wheeler in particular is about the softest 6’5″ player the game’s ever seen. Horton and Lucic have that aspect but Habs have dealt with worse.

Gomez’s line was caught being lazy on their defensive assignment time and again which left the D overwhelmed because of a lack of support and the game just went out of control. A disciplined game like the Habs have presented BOS with in their wins would have seen a different result. It was a freakish game.

It’s not relevant what happened 3, 4 or 5 years ago. Different teams totally. If you do want to say it does, remember the last playoff series? 2 years ago the Bruins blew Montreal out of the water in 4 straight. The teams are quite different, especially Montreal, so that’s not relevant. What is relevant is the way Boston attacked Montreal’s D and forechecked mercilessly last game, leading to 8 goals on Price and the Habs. They couldn’t handle the big Powerful forwards on the boards or in front of the net. It’s not a reason to get too excited, but should be a cause for some concern, considering that is the style of play Montreal has a real hard time with, as shown by the Flyer series last year. The next game will be very important to see how Montreal handles it.

Actually it’s very relevant. The Bruins always try and muscle the Habs and it’s mostly been ineffective, they stick to the skill and speed game and they burn a team they’ve frustrated for years with that style by not letting themselves get dragged into the gutter.

If the Gomez line had backchecked last game it never would have gotten out of hand like that.

The Boston game was a game that showed an area where the Habs are vulnerable. That they can be rattled. They are kind of like McFly getting called chicken. They need to avoid getting suckered into doing things in which they get compromised The Habs need to play smart. Avoid getting hammered. Avoid taking penalties. Score on the power play. It wouldn’t hurt to have one or two upgrades in the size/grit department but even still the Habs can hang with the best of them.

The Flyers worry me because they are big and talented. Take away the talented part and they wouldn’t worry me as much if at all.

I also believe that to make it through the grind of 4 play-off rounds the Habs need to remedy this what they are lacking that makes them vulnerable aspect of their team dynamic.

That isn’t relevant. What is, is this season, where the Habs are 3-1 against them. The Bruins did definately send a message though. They said “we’re the top 2 teams in our division and may meet in the playoffs, you’ve won the first 3 games against us this year, but be ready, because this is how it’s going to be from now on.” It’s up to the Habs to respond next game.

I beg to differ about “hacking your arm off” with the core group of players we have we “shouldn’t” finished in the bottem half in the league next few years so draft picks will be mid to low 1st rounders and with our record of drafting well in the 2 round and higher well worth a chance?

I love Super-Mario. My favorite player of all time. And yes having Cooke on his team takes a bit away from this statement but 1) he’s defending his team and that’s what he SHOULD DO (and from the clip it seemed clear that a couple of Islander players were the main instigators), and 2) so what if he has Cooke on his team. He’s playing in the rules, and if the league came down on Cooke harder as they should, I am sure Mario would not step up and object.

Seriously, the really bothersome thing about PK Subban’s critics is it really, stripped away of all the bullsh*t, is because of his race. The NHL and hockey in Canada is clamouring for a top flight player of his calibre that has the personality and swagger that refreshes us from the milquetoast mundane vanilla of the ‘typical’ pro athlete. PK is a genuine breath of fresh air in staid stale bathroom of CBC-fed crap.

And everyone from Mike Richards to TSN to the CBC to Cherry to Joffrey freakin’ Lupul are speaking out against his jubilant joy for the game, it’s gotta be a race thing cuz if he were white, he’d have endorsements coming out of his ass by now.

Why are some people so hungry for a top points producer? We’re sitting in 5th place right now in the East, 1 point out of 3rd because of solid goaltending a good defence. Should we do like NJ last year and go out and get a Kovulchuck type player, look how that’s worked out for them.

I honestly don’t know what PG will do regarding any trades. He is not the type of GM who freely gives away draft picks like they’re candy and really who do we have that we can trade away to bring in someone like we say that we need without giving up something of decent value without affecting the chemistry of the team.

At the end of the day the player who comes in must be a player who also fits the team stlye, chemistry and is a systems type player, not a lazy player(ie; Dustin penner). We have only AK46 that the team may be willing to part with. Gomez, is not going to go anywhere, so forget that. So the only players to bring in such a player would be; Plekanec, Cammy, Gionta, Pacorietty, Pouliot, Subban. If your trading these type of players are we really going forward or just spinning wheels.

Ottawa, rumor has it that they want Pacorietty for Phillips, yet they trade away Fisher to Nashville for draft picks. Seems like the Habs in order to make a trade must mortgage the farm, while the rest of the teams get bargain basement deals. I for one am happy to stay status quo, if it means we have to give away our young good guys. Ottawa didn’t deal away any of their young core when they were up and coming so I say we do the same.

Our draft picks lately have been decent and progressing nicely to the point where we are actually seeing the rewards of the picks. Let’s build through the draft and Free agency.

To you from failing hands we throw the torch, be yours to hold it high.

our team in PTs sits in 33rd place in the league. I think with the available cap space we have this team needs a forward and a defenseman b4 the trade deadline.

I’m aware of the cost to us but trying to sign S.Weber to an offer sheet might not be that bad an idea, considering we have a good core group and doubt that we would be finishing near the bottem of the standings on the next few years?

“Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be. But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn’t hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that.

“The NHL had a chance to send a clear and strong message that those kinds of actions are unacceptable and embarrassing to the sport. It failed.

“We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players. We must make it clear that those kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will be met with meaningful disciplinary action.

“If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to re-think whether I want to be a part of it.”

– Mario Lemieux

A free prize to the first H I/O poster who points out the glaring hypocrisy in the Pittsburgh Penguin owner’s statement.

Not comparing Eller to Max.. I think Eller is/will be better player. Just actually comparing my impression of both as players with ‘huge skillsets’ and wondering if I will have to eat crow re thinking Eller is gonna be ‘above average’ NHLer as I have to do now that I proclaimed Max a top six forward…. and he is just plain playing himself outta the league in Anaheim based on stats anyways.

I’m not suggesting we give up on Eller at all. It’s way too early for that. Just send him down ala Patches, so he can learn and develop and play and be allowed to make mistakes and physically mature etc. He only has one year of pro hockey under his belt. He doesn’t have the talent to just come into the top levelafter such ittle development time. I don’t think the guy will ever be a top 6, scoring player, but I do think he could become a very nice 3rd line guy. In the mold of a Brian Skrudland, with maybe the potential to score 15-20 goals.

I don’t agree with the comparison with Lapierre. Since he came on to the scene four years ago, Lapierre’s role was pretty well defined to be a third line energy type player. It was my opinion back in 2007 that Lapierre could become one of the best third line two-way centres in the league. Obviously that opinion has changed since then. With Eller, I think we have a player with much more upside than Lapierre. I believe that with proper grooming, he can be a top six centre for us. For that to happen, I think he needs to get sent to the AHL. Right now, he is playing outside of his natural centre position with two black holes in Gomez and AK. He needs to go to Hamilton and centre their first or second line and get substantial practice handling the puck. As of now, he treats the puck like a grenade and really has no clue what to do with it.

Just checked the Knights roster page and he is listed as 6’7″, not 6’6″ as I mentioned in my previous post.

I think part of the reason he looks smaller is due to the relatively low-quality SD of Junior games on TV. They also have another Dman (Donnay) listed at 6’7″ so they’ve got a dare-I-say truculent defense core.

Acutally, upon further investigation, we only have 22 players on the roster right now, so even with Cammy coming back, we will not need to open up a roster spot. With this in mind, I will agree that if we were to send anyone down, it should be Eller. As you said, Cammy’s return would mean that Eller would either sit on the bench or play 4th line minutes (which would do nothing for his development. Once Darche comes back, I still think it will be Pyatt who will be the one to take a seat while Eller still plays on the second line with Gomez. Once Cammy comes back, however, there will be no space for Eller in the line-up and he will either be benched or sent to Hamilton.

Maybe the game against us did take more emotionally out of them than one would have thought. Or maybe, and I cant believe I am saying this, JM is better at restablishing focus that Julien. For it does seem that Habs have regained focus… but then the opponent was Detroit… not Leafs and Islanders.

Fisher looked good on a line with SK74 last night in Nashville. They quietly have a very nice team over there. What Trotz has done is pretty amazing. He’s overtaken Boucher as coach of the year, in my mind, at this point in time. Anyone who could get SK to produce deserves it. Underwood was at the game also, she looked great. I’ve been to Nashville and maybe love the city more than any other. Fisher’s living the life, that’s for sure.

If the score holds for Detroit and I hope it does. The game between Montreal and Boston will be a wasted game for Boston. It was a four pointer, but by losing the 2 games against Detroit and the Habs getting that point against the Islanders and picking up the 2 points versus the Leafs the spread is now only 1 point. Before all this started the Habs were 2 points behind Boston, now they will only be 1 point behind. Habs have refocused and will march forward.

This has got to be a setback for Boston and their fans if they look at how the out come has basically reversed on them in in a matter of 3-4 days.

To you from failing hands we throw the torch, be yours to hold it high.

You think White should be sent down? I think he looks pretty good so far, and deserves to stay in the lineup. He adds a nice gritty element, the Habs lack, has very nice speed and wins battles on the boards, which the Habs also are not great at. So Darche in and Eller or Pyatt sits. Pyatt is useful on the PK and it does no good for Eller to play 10 mins a game on the 4th line. So I rather Pyatt stays in the lineup until Cammy returns and Eller sits and/or goes to Hamilton. Eller just has not improved or developed since the start of the year. He may have gotten worse. He’s not NHL ready.

Well thats good to hear. He just seems smaller then that watching him on TV, comparing him to the players around him.. I thought he was listed at 6’7 on draft day. I figured he was probably about 6’4 or 6’5.

With Darche coming back, I think Pyatt will be the one to sit and White be the one that is sent down. Once Cammy comes off IR, we will have to free up another roster spot. In this case, I think it would be prudent to send Eller to the AHL and let him hone his skills as a CENTRE while also getting 20+ minutes of top six and PP time per game.

In every issue this year National Geographic tackles the population issue. Its intense. Whats crazy is all the people on the planet that will be moving up to middle class…. the world needs to start thinking less selfishly. Whoa… k, back to hockey. Go Wings (today)

How come TSN, Don Cherry or anyone else isn’t making a big deal of that puke Darryl Boyce taking a slap shot purposely at PK. Geoffrey Lupol is crying about the way PK was fighting, at least he is willing to drop the gloves and duke it out. Boyce is skating around with a full cage and taking slap shots at players. What a coward.

I see the League has levied fines and suspensions towards the Islanders for their part in the brawl versus the Penguins. Campbell’s reason for the suspensions was that there was deliberate attempt to injure their opponent by throwing several blows to the head. I guess the repeated blows to Pyatts head by Campbell’s son with an elbow pad doesn’t fall into the same catagory and Boychuk continued punching of Spacek even though Spacek was not fighting, these I guess are of a completely different set of circumferences.

I guess the Habs had it coming to them since they beat the Bruins 3 times in a row. Can’t have that So Campbell turns a blind eye. This is where the bullshite line of Campbell and the league becomes just that bullshite. Fairness only comes into play when it doesn’t involve anything related to him.

You mention those 3 qualities and the difference between our team and Detroit is that physical aspect. Our talent is pretty high level as well but not tough and big enough. I would only add that toughness and size on the fourth line (so as to minimize what we would have to give up. Bertuzzi looks pretty good out there today.

I pvr-ed the game as usual, and started watching over an hour later, starting with the half hour show before the game. I don’t know what’s up with Hockey Day in Canada, nor do I care. All I know is that I fast forwarded through all the garbage with Don Cherry getting RCMP escorts and managed to finish watching the game about the same time it ended on live tv. What a stupid show. I could never bear to watch it live. Its bad enough when I tape it and skip the worst parts.

I know everyone’s favorite is RDS. I don’t understand it so I don’t watch it. I prefer the TSN coverage. At least they mention the Habs players by name in the play by play commentary so that I can know who is on the ice.

Subby was great last night. He’s going to be a valuable asset for years. He brings a lot to the game and a lot of the criticism is not fair.

I am so impressed with our kiddie corps. Desharnais, Pouliot, MaxPac, Subby and White are all playing great. I hope they all continue to develop.

Funny how the tone changes so fast around here. 24 hours ago, it was all doom and gloom. Today its the sweet smell of victory mixed with the acrid smell of burning leafs.

We are only 1 win removed from a 3 game winless streak. Yes, it was hard to take. But we are still 2 points up on the pace we set 2 years ago in winning the conference. And we are 10 points up on last year when we squeeked into the playoffs. It would take a huge collapse for us not to make the playoffs this year, and we have a good shot at a top 4 spot, which would mean home ice advantage in the first round. Matching lines gives us a big advantage.

Okay, bring on the Sabres, the Oilers and the Flames. I see 5 out of a possible 6 points for us this week. And we will pass Washington in the standings while we gain ground on the Bruins.

3. It’s predicted that planet Earth’s population will hit 6,666,666,666 this May. An omen, or what? I think it’s time to shave Sean Avery’s head.

4. Scientists are now reporting that marijuana use sometimes enhances a man’s desire for sex, but alas, it also is a major reason for erectile dysfunction. “They call me mellow yellow, quite rightly”. (Donovan)

5. Alex Kovalev’s name has been in trade rumors recently and his play of late may have increased his value. His two goals and an assist gave him eight points in six games as the Senators beat the Edmonton Oilers on “Hockey Day in Canada”. Kovy was chosen as the 3rd star for all the games that were played in our nation yesterday (Samuelsson was 1st, Price was 2nd). You have to love the timing considering the trade deadline is coming and GMs from the KHL and NHL will be watching. Gotta fatten that bank account one more time before the curtain finally falls. Could you imagine our team right now if Kovy and Komi had accepted G&G’s contract offers two years ago?

If anyone else is tired of TSN jumping on every comment made about Subban, sick of the bias shown, and their stomach turned when they saw, basically, a reminder of all of the ‘bad’ things Subban has done this year on the video section of TSN today. You can email you thoughts here and hopefully someone of importance will read it.

You’ve got to love the way DD is playing the game. I’m really excited about this player. He’s showing what a real hockey player is all about. Now that Darche is coming back, I think you have to sit Eller. White as been a very nice edition to the lineup and Eller just has done nothing all season. You can see how behind he is compared to the other young guys. He should go to Hamilton to find hid game, where he should have been the whole time.

I say White stays, Pyatt sits and Eller is sent down. But this does not mean in any way that I would be comfortable giving up on Eller. He just looks too good skill-set wise and plays somewhat fearlessly to not turn out to be an above average NHL. But then again I was just reminded yesterday re my evaluation of Max Lappierre, who seems to have the speed, size, hands, puck control and touch and yet is fading so badly in Anaheim.

Maybe Eller is not what his skillset promises, although mentally he has way more dedication than Max. Would love to see the ‘best’ done for his career… whether it is the farm or ???

Maybe all he really needs his confidence or re-adjustment to a physical growth spurt. He reminds me of my son who is over 6′ 1″ and at one time seemed totally unable to deal with his growth spurt.

What does that say about us that Lucic feels capable of gooning around playing us while he chickens away agasint the respected Wings? For whatever reason, we get no respect around the league and the only way to get it is to earn it. Respect is earned by playing the Red Wings’ style: smooth, clean, and fearless. They are not an overly physical team, but have some guys like Franzen and Bertuzzi who can impose their will at times. In short, they have a nice mix of finesse and physical players that are not goons, but never let themselves be dictated by the goon style. We have the finesse, but lack the physical dimension up front that the Red Wings have. In addition, we lack the mental resolve that the Red Wings have. This lack of resolve is evidenced by the all too often seen fact that we play to the level of our opposition. We just have to play our way and ignore the goon tactics perpetrated by teams like the Flyers and Bruins.

There is one thing that is bothering me about the fights lately…people are debating or freaking out about the brawls in the NYI-Pit game but are ok with the Bos-Mtl brawls because as far as they are concerned it was the cheap, yappy, wussy Habs getting what they deserved…I hate that kind of hypocrisy…the targetting of Talbot was a travesty according to some, but the targetting of Subban and some of the non-fighter Habs was ok because they deserved that kind of treatment and had it coming to them…I cannot stand it at all…

Also, Lucic’s goonery is saved only for the Habs…today he could have destroyed a Red Wing defender who was making an outlet pass with a good giant hit…but instead he turned away and barely tiouched him when the pass was made. also, the goonery was only for the Habs…the B’s were so tame against the Red Wings…no goonery at all….just makes my blood boil.

Detroit looks like they will be the ones capable of knocking off the Canucks in the West. That is a hell of an organization. Anaheim is starting to look very good as a dark horse also. Habs are very lucky they are not in the Western Conference, because with how their team is built, I seriously doubt they would be a playoff team.

The owners of teams that get revenue sharing probably agree.. I think its a joke that some owners are paying for more than just their teams. Where would those other teams be if MTL, VAN, TOR got to keep all the money they made?

My impression is Price spends a disproportionate amount of time workin’ on his stickhandlin’ and that this goes back a couple of seasons. It has long been an integral part of Marty B’s game and Carey clearly aspires to greatness.

Forgot to mention, if you were watchin’ durin’ the three-star selection last night, you’ll note that as third star Poolio came off the ice and passed Price in the hallway, the latter passively-aggressively shoved Benny into the wall.

I’m worried. Clearly, there is a battle for supremacy takin’ place among the emergin’ young leaders on the team and this kinda infightin’ can only lead to an eventual dressin’ room implosion. I’ll be keepin’ a vigilant eye on this emergin’ Habstroversy™.

I’ve really been impressed with Price’s stickhandling in the last 10 games, he’s making a game lot easier for his defencemen coming back for the puck. Beginning of the year it was shaky at times but I guess playing 50 games with the boys they’ve worked out their routine.

The issue here is that “seasoned” vets go complaining to the media after their loss to the Habs, and Subban appears to be the point of interest, and it’s disgusting me.

After the Washington game, where Subban got hit by OV, he actually maned up, and called it the hit of the year. You didn’t see him down-playing that hit. He respected the fact that he got drilled, and acknowledge it. As well, we have yet to see him come out of a game complaining about another team’s player. He often gets targeted by opposing teams, and all he has to say about it is “It’s part of the game!”, and that’s it. He is aware of the mutual “respect” players should have for each other, and doesn’t go crying to the media every time some ‘goon’ tries to take a run at him.

As for Lupul, the guy is looking for an excuse. Here is a guy that just got traded to the leafs. He makes 4.5 Million dollars, and knows that he will likely never reach the expectations that were put out for him. Therefore, in order to justify his contract and try to impress leaf nation, he set out to look tough and fight someone. He chose to fight a rookie and got man-handled! As a result, his ego was hurt, so he came up with a lame excuse to redirect the spotlight on Subban!

to win the division we will have to pick up way more points on the road than we have so far…after tues game we have played 6 more home games and we have the fewest road points of the top 10 teams in the east.

Price is a stud. last night was a prime example of how a goalie can control the flow of the game. Rebounds? What rebounds? Anything that looked even remotely harmless, he effortlessly steered away from oncoming Leafs, and the rest he sucked up for faceoffs. And he might have been the best puckhandler on the ice last night not named Plekanec.

You’re good at picking up the highlights that don’t show up on highlight reels.

I had the “Hockey Day in Canada” on all day. All I could think was two things: 1. This is goddam horrible.. HORRIBLE. I mean, there were good parts here and there but it’s a really tired formula that gest lazier and lazier. And 2. WTF is “hockey day” during the start of the Canada Winter Games? So CBC is our NATIONAL network, but thought it should try to pull audience away from our winter games. Nice. Really, really, really nice.

Watched the game on RDS – you know, Bob’s yer uncle – but switched over to CBC at one point durin’ intermission and caught Dan Chestnut in a pith helmet and Ron MacLean lookin’ like Anne Murray about to break into Snowbird, shook my head, switched back to RDS and, while hearin’ but not listenin’ to the talkin’ heads, pondered that the producer at the mothership who vetted the bloody inanity is most certainly fuelin’ the argument the feds should consider reinstatin’ capital punishment.

I’d say the funds wasted on that segment could probably have covered a soup kitchen’s overhead for about a year except for the fact that Crown Corp. budgets don’t operate that way. The cultural braintrust would have just blown it on somethin’ else.

I’m almost startin’ to feel sorry for Komisarek. Almost.What a mess. He was so lost out there, I’m half-certain I saw a piece of paper with some of his critical personal information safety-pinned to the front of his jersey. Gainey dodged one hell of a bullet.

So much of the game is in the head. A Poolio and MaxPac – he turned into the hit, I can’t really blame whats-his-face – armed with the kinda confidence they’re carryin’ right now is a harbinger of great things as far as the yoot movement goes. Two sizeable guys with skill. Their game will add new dimensions as they gain experience.

Although, admittedly, a couple of single-purpose fourth-liners would have ensured a 6-0 outcome.

*cough*

Have shared that Price sentiment for some time. His talent and poise have become so commonplace, they’re rote.

Have to admit I watched the intermission on CBC for a change………. that whole RCMP-mad trapper bit was just awful.Sure, its a tip of the hat to the RCMP and its history, but PeeWee Herman could have scripted it better.

I’m sure it was an oversite with all the hockey day in Canuckland stuff going on. I’m certain when the CBC think tank assembles next weekend that Cherry .Milbury, Stock and Healey will all address this.

So why hasn’t the media jumped all over Brad Marchand. He’s a rookie who’s running his mouth off, stirring up crap and then standing back and letting his big guys finish what he started. He doen’t seem to be respecting the veterans in this league.

Lupol is an IDIOT. He puts his hand up to take off his strap and while he’s doing that he starts skating forward fast at PK. HELLO!! McFly!! It’s the NHL, do stuff like that and you’re gonna get your clock cleaned everytime. and I’m sick and fricken tired of this “hidden code” I keep hearing about. The only hidden code I see is the one Cambell uses to pick and choose what teams and what players he’s gonna actually apply the rule book to. Lupol is just a whiney little bitch who’s mad because Soobie fed him his lunch. Lupols mad because he was just traded to TO and all anyone could talk about was the rookie Gardiner they got, who according to the Hockey News isn’t all he’s cracked up to be:

The national media outlets like TSN and CBC have to cater to the largest market. I’ve lived in SW Ontario for over 30 years and have learned to put up with it. Thank god for the internet so to keep me from being brainwashed. But I can fully appreciate other Canadians that live in the west or the east coast, and yes MTL too, that have to put up with having to wait until TSN airs Leaf game news before ever getting to their team. It makes it even worst that the Laffs have been the perennial worst Canadian team for decades and only because of their large market do they get 1st airing 90% of the time. Even when they don’t play, TSN always has a Leaf update to tell. TSN is a business too and they need to keep the Leaf’s in the forefront and nothing will ever change that.

I don’t see it the same way as some here. Lupol didn’t disparge PK at all. He just said that if you wear a visor you are supposes to remove your helmet before fighting. In fact Lupol went on to say Pk is a good young and exciting player. If the media didnt give PK any time then we wouild be complaining about that too. Face it people, we are biased, and if PK wasn’t what Lupol and other players say he is he wouldnt be as adored by us as he is. He is good for the game, gonna have a great career, and will become a poster player for the NHL. But he is a rookie and does have things to learn and he openly admits to that.

PK SUBBAN brings life and colourful attitude to an otherwise scripted (boring) media scrum. When you take it one step further and realize he has yet to compete in a full season it makes you wonder just how brilliant he may be when in his mid/late 20s. The last time the CANADIENS had such a stud on the blueline who impressed early on with skill/talent, a mouth piece that caught media attention and was loathed by the opposition was CHRIS CHELIOS.

PK SUBBAN is easily the most impressive d-man draft pick by the CANADIENS organization since MARKOV.

If PK played for the Laffs, he would be a god to them. The more people bash PK, the more we have to realize that it’s because he is seen as a true threat. If it were up to me, I would create a fourth line on this team that is dirty as hell, tough. The kind of players who can crash Thomas’s net and go toe to toe with Lucic et al. I know that seems unrelated, I am still seething from that Boston game sorry hehe

Another attack on Pk… ho, hum. Personally I find the whole media drubbing he’s taking to be hilarious. A couple of nights earlier Campbell pummels one of our guys with an elbow pad and slices him up pretty good. Not a single comment from these astute media wags about that. But, there’s no doubt the guy had no idea the elbow pad was smashing his face. We’ll just have to give him the benefit of the doubt because daddy Campbell was too busy this week with the Isles- Penguin fiasco.

If the league did review that Campbell incident, not they would because it never really happened, daddy would have to send out another e-mail… as a, you know, concerned hockey dad.

Now imagine for a moment if that was Pk flailing away with that elbow pad.

How sweet it is to beat the Leafs! But they did look bad, real bad. Phaneuf makes Spacek look like Doug Harvey and what else can be said about Kessel? Well done BB!

Big concern – Max-Pac; we can’t afford to lose another player esp. him; another concern – AK46 seems to be just waiting to be traded; he made some good hits and passes, but is not what we expected esp. at the beginning of the year.

I thought Gomez had a better game, loved his pass that set up Desharnais

I don’t pretend to be an expert; just a die-hard Habs fan passing my opinion

His game completely changed since that beat-down by Lucic. For 500 K more he had chosen the Leafs over the Habs. This fan said good riddance. I quit laughing after watching his 4th or 5th mistake with that club game in / game out because, like an old joke, you’re kind of used to it by now.

When I saw Phaneuf in the Juniors, I really thought he was the cat’s ass. Im not gonna pretend that I know whats wrong with him but I think he needs to develop his identity and stop cultivating his image as an enigma or whatever it is. Show your true personality to everyone, and time to stop trying to be Scott Stevens and just be Dion Phaneuf.

[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.

I thought he made poor decisions, poor passes, and took stupid penalties. I remember one play where AK came flying down the left side with the puck 1-1, only Double Don defended it like it was a 2 on 1 for some reason (it wasn’t), and never took the step towards AK, which allowed him to blow by and swoop right in on Giguere (who made the stop). Phanuef is not a captain. I loved his game as a rookie, I don’t understand what the heck happened to him.

The leafs are silly to even be publically saying that theyre thinking playoffs. They need all the wins they can get, and they had the blueprint layed out in front of them by Julien and practically brought no physicality.

[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.

Wasn’t able to watch the game last night but caught the highlights – that was one sweet pass by MaxPac from behind the net (falling) to Gionta for the second – I’m really looking forward to watching the recorded version in its entirety today. Looks like Desharnais played one of his better games, too.

Good Sunday Morning to all. Boy it feels good after a Saturday night when the Habs have once again set the order of things right. Score: Habs-whatever/Leafs-‘whatever-less’. The score mostly nevered mattered. Just beat that team. Nice shutout though and good 1st win to start a streak on.

Makes the anger from Boston game go away some. If I threatened anyone with grevious bodily harm over the past two days.. I apologise. It safe again to walk your dog down my street….. for now!